Paige
My view is this: In the desire to allow letters to connect more fluidly in
handwriting, Read to a large degree sacrificed the cleanliness and
consistency of the individual letter shapes in Quikscript. The need to
create a clean typeface for print was not on the top of his mind.
We must bear in mind that Read was working with "ever-circulars" in the
build-up to the creation of Quikscript. This meant the only feedback on
Shavian he was getting was through handwriting in letters - so obviously it
was easy to worry about how easy the alphabet was to write in cursive
handwriting. There were to be no more typefaces made, as there was no money,
so the emphasis was quite understandably on an alphabet built first and
foremost for cursive handwriters.
While back then, with no computers or typefaces, the priority had to be
making it work with cursive handwriting, today the importance can once again
be put back with making a clear, attractive alphabet for print purposes.
People do not need to write cursively any more - they only need to be able
to type, as typing has the inherent ability of being faster than
conventional handwriting - and indeed, most people I know now prefer to
write, when they do need to write, in a printed fashion as it guarantees
ease of legibility.
So in my opinion, the old requirement that letters join together perfectly
for cursive script is no longer urgent, because cursive script is no longer
an urgent priority. In looking for a replacement alphabet for English,
thanks to computers we can concentrate on making the print form legible and
ultimately pleasant to the eye. I believe Shavian is perfect for the job.
Hugh B
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paige Gabhart" <pgabhart@...>
To: <shavian@...>
Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2003 5:09 AM
Subject: [shavian] aesthetics
> Carl:
>
> You should keep in mind that the design of Quikscript makes it easy to
> for letters to connect, but it certainly is no requirement that they do
> so. It is perfectly acceptable for them to be written separately. In
> fact, junior QS, which Read intended for the beginner, is written with
> each letter separate.
> Paige Gabhart
>
> carl easton wrote:
>
> [snip]
>
> > And Quickscript I like because it is the cursive of Shavian (When I
> > think of Shavian I think of the Original). Though Quickscript is
> > difficult for me because I am a printer mostly. So I like to print my
> > letters. Which I think has aesthetic value.
> >
> >
> >
> > */r/*
> >
> > click here
> >
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